Or if any professing they worship idols should swear that covenant, alleging the covenant doth not forbid idols to be memorials and objects by ⟨p. 134⟩which absolute adoration is given to God, we would not think that they had sworn the covenant of God, but only words of God falsely expounded, yea and made to be not Gods Word, but a plain lying invention. Therefore it is all one whether a Church swear a confession, in express words of Scripture; or a covenant in other words expounding the Scriptures true meaning and sense according to the language and proper idiom of the Nation and Church; for we swear not words or a platform as it is such, but the matter, sense, and meaning of the Scriptures of God set down in that platform; and it is certain, in Nehemiahs time there was some platform, either the writings of Moses, or some sound exposition thereof; else I see not how they could seal it, Nehem. 9. 38. And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our Princes, Levites and Priests seal unto it. Now that which was written could not but be a platform either in Scripture only, according to the meaning of the exacters of the oath, or some interpretation; else every man writ his own covenant and sealed it, which is not like, for they all jointly sware this covenant; and the reason of this written, sworn, and sealed covenant, being moral, as is clear, because of the apostasy of the whole Church, and judgements upon them, for their apostasy, v. 38. And because of all this, we make, and write a sure covenant, saith the Text [Greek or Hebrew] & in toto hoe (vertit aArias montanus) nos excidentes fidelitatem bJudaei excudentes faedus fidele, cJunius, pro toto hoc pepigimus constitutionem; now sins, back-slidings, and judgements may be and often are in all the Christian Churches. 2. To swear to the true religion, the defence and maintenance thereof is a lawful oath; as to swear to any thing that is lawful, and to lay a new band on our souls to perform holy duties, where we fear a breach, and find by experience there hath been a breach, is also a duty of moral and perpetual equity; therefore such a sworn covenant is lawful:
Or if any professing they worship idols should sweare that covenant, alledging the covenant doth not forbid idols to be memorials and objects by ⟨p. 134⟩which absolute adoration is given to God, we would not thinke that they had sworne the covenant of God, but onely words of God falsely expounded, yea and made to be not Gods Word, but a plaine lying invention. Therefore it is all one whether a Church sweare a confession, in expresse words of Scripture; or a covenant in other words expounding the Scriptures true meaning and sense according to the language and proper idiom of the Nation and Church; for we sweare not words or a platforme as it is such, but the matter, sense, and meaning of the Scriptures of God set downe in that platforme; and it is certaine, in Nehemiahs time there was some platforme, either the writings of Moses, or some sound exposition thereof; else I see not how they could seale it, Nehem. 9. 38. And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our Princes, Levites and Priests seale unto it. Now that which was written could not but be a platforme either in Scripture onely, according to the meaning of the exacters of the oath, or some interpretation; else every man writ his owne covenant and sealed it, which is not like, for they all joyntly sware this covenant; and the reason of this written, sworne, and sealed covenant, being morall, as is cleare, because of the apostasie of the whole Church, and judgements upon them, for their apostasie, v. 38. And because of all this, we make, and write a sure covenant, saith the Text 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 & in toto hoe (vertit aArias montanus) nos excidentes fidelitatem bIudaei excudentes faedus fidele, cIunius, pro toto hoc pepigimus constitutionem; now sinnes, back-slidings, and judgements may be and often are in all the Christian Churches. 2. To sweare to the true religion, the defence and maintenance thereof is a lawfull oath; as to sweare to any thing that is lawfull, and to lay a new band on our soules to performe holy duties, where we feare a breach, and finde by experience there hath beene a breach, is also a dutie of morall and perpetuall equity; therefore such a sworne covenant is lawfull:
- aArias Mont.
- bHebraei.
- cJunius annot.Iunius annot.
